What Technology Integration in the Classroom Means to Me

I was born in 1985 which means that I'm at the tail end of the Gen Xers and the beginning of the Gen Ys. I remember getting my first computer in my house when I was in 4th grade. I began having Internet access in middle school and I was independently surfing the web and talking on AOL instant message in high school (back when you had to dial up to get the Internet, which took up your phone line, and it took forever and then half the time it gave you a busy signal). I got my first cell phone in high school and I began texting emphatically in college. I have seen technology go from being used by a seldom few who wanted to be a part of it to a world wide necessity in order to be a part of everyday society. I grew up in the age of technology being created and then booming into mainstream society. Now as an adult technology is playing a critical role in my job field and my use of it may just impact my success within my job. To me technology integration in the classroom means the following:
1. Student engagement-they are always interested
2. Student motivation- they always want to participate
3. Student excitement- they are always enjoying themselves and having fun
4. Student learning- they are always learning something new and often times applying it right away
5. Teacher intimidation- I often don't know many of the things that they know how to do
6. Teacher time- it takes a lot of personal time to learn about different quality educational sites and education software and a lot of time to plan technology integrated lessons
7. Connectivity- being able to connect my students to learning and thoughts from around the world is very intriguing
8. Newness- every lesson that I find a way to integrate technology with is new and interesting
9. Scariness- sometimes a find the world to be too connected and involved in every ones personal life. It is
bothersome to me how easily anyone can find out whatever they want to know about others by simply typing their name into a computer search engine

Overall I think that technology integration in the classroom is a must. We are living in an age of instant gratification for whatever we want to know whenever we want to know it. Students learn best through hands-on work and technology gives them the means to do that. Kids want to create and be made to think. Technology can bring them fun, excitement, enjoyment, knowledge, communication, challenge and confidence.